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We can bet that a star-spangled
Flag Cake, a
berries-and-cream trifle and other red, white and blue treats will make a proud appearance at your 4th of July festivities. But painting your spread with the colors of our flag isn’t the only way to celebrate our nation’s independence. Get in the spirit by stocking your cookout menu with all-American cookout classics that scream “America” without bothering to be red, white and blue.

Not only are ribs on their own American treasures, but the Neelys’
Sweet Cola Ribs (pictured above) come with a glug of a national favorite — soda — in the sauce, which gives it a punch of unexpected sweetness. Smoking the ribs on indirect heat makes them the most-tender, delicious barbecue to serve on the 4th. Just make sure you provide napkins.

Set up a burger bar the American way and give guests the freedom to top their own burgers. Not only does it feature an American classic, the backyard burger, but
The Burger Bar done Tyler Florence’s way makes for a fun, interactive backyard get-together.

American Macaroni Salad: Food Network Kitchens

Photo by: Tara Donne

Tara Donne

Pasta and macaroni salads are as customary at a summer picnic as a red-and-white gingham blanket, and this crowd-pleasing
American Macaroni Salad is as classic as it gets. It has the creamy consistency, classic veggies and old-school elbow macaroni you dig about this cookout side.

Fry up a batch of Trisha Yearwood’s
Mama’s Cornmeal Hushpuppies, made with buttermilk and flecked with finely chopped jalapeno. This recipe for the Southern-fried side leaves the fryer piping hot and crispy, with a yield that’ll feed your whole cookout.

Creamy Cole Slaw; Bobby Flay

Photo by: Tara Donne

Tara Donne

Bobby Flay’s basic, classic
Creamy Coleslaw may be nothing more than shredded cabbage and carrots in a tangy mayo-based dressing, but this crunchy concoction is so much more to Americans. It brings brightness to our barbecue sandwiches, provides a refreshing reprieve in between bites of burgers, and gives us a dose of veggies in a sea of hot dogs, beer and other heavy favorites. Oh, and did we mention it hits the table in just 10 minutes?

Make Alton Brown’s fairground classic,
Funnel Cake, at home, complete with the must-have sprinkling of powdered sugar. It’s a year-round hit at theme parks, carnivals, sporting events and more across the country, so you can bet it’ll be a crowd-pleaser when it’s made hot and crispy at home.

If there’s any dessert that says more about the American experience than any other, it’s a tray of freshly baked, piping-hot, chocolatey brownies straight out of the oven. There’s a reason they stock our bake sales and parties every other day of the year. Put out a tray of Ina Garten’s from-scratch
Outrageous Brownies while the fireworks are going off and, odds are, they’ll have disappeared by the grand finale.